I doubt they'd do it for the iPhone 4S, since I think the requirement is that you fulfilled the full 2 year agreement.

General eligibility requirements for unlocking iPhone
AT&T will unlock an iPhone under the following circumstances:
The person requesting the unlock is:
A current AT&T customer.
A former AT&T customer who can provide the phone number or account number for the account.
The iPhone was designed for use on the AT&T network.All contract obligations, including any term commitment, associated with the device to be unlocked have been fully satisfied.
The iPhone has not been reported lost or stolen.

I think only the iPhone 4 would be eligible since that's the newest iPhone that would fulfill the 2 year commitment.

In addition, AT&T will unlock an iPhone for: (i) an active and deployed member of the military who is a current AT&T customer in good standing and is able to provide AT&T with deployment verification; and (ii) a person who purchased the iPhone from an authorized location at the "no commitment" price and can provide proof of purchase.

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Given #2, does that mean when I buy a no-commitment 5 that I can have it unlocked right away? I have one year left on my 4S contract, so I am assuming that I can't unlock that after I remove it from my account, right?

So I buy iP5 for $650, can get that unlocked, take 4S off account and can not get that unlocked (Because it is still in its 2 year term commitment?)

Given #2, does that mean when I buy a no-commitment 5 that I can have it unlocked right away? I have one year left on my 4S contract, so I am assuming that I can't unlock that after I remove it from my account, right?

So I buy iP5 for $650, can get that unlocked, take 4S off account and can not get that unlocked (Because it is still in its 2 year term commitment?)

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if you buy a 5 outright you can get the 4s unlocked, provided you swap phone on your account.

will they unlock the 4S on the primary line if I open a new line for the 5 and swap the sims? or does it only work if you buy a 5 at full price?

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No.
Cause the primary line will still be in contract for that 4S. Only if you early upgrade on that line you can. Not if you transfer another phone from another line.
If you buy an i5 at full price then it will be unlock or available to be unlocked.
You can always purchase an IMEI unlock on ebay for $20-30 also.

So since I ordered my iPhone 5 with my line first, and then ordered a 4s for my sister's line, the contract was technically reset twice. So my iPhone 5 should be done with its contract obligations since the new contract is based off the 4s?

So since I ordered my iPhone 5 with my line first, and then ordered a 4s for my sister's line, the contract was technically reset twice. So my iPhone 5 should be done with its contract obligations since the new contract is based off the 4s?

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At least on AT&T, each line has it's own "contract", hence they can have different eligibility dates. So I believe you are incorrect

Given #2, does that mean when I buy a no-commitment 5 that I can have it unlocked right away? I have one year left on my 4S contract, so I am assuming that I can't unlock that after I remove it from my account, right?

So I buy iP5 for $650, can get that unlocked, take 4S off account and can not get that unlocked (Because it is still in its 2 year term commitment?)

Click to expand...

Yes, that should be the case. The ones sold at Apple Stores will be unlocked already (even if they say AT&T and the receipt has the disclaimer that it might be locked). That's how I got my 4S a few weeks before the official unlocked versions came out.

With AT&T it will be a little more difficult since the phone is initially locked. Submit a request on the website when you get your phone. If you are not already an AT&T customer you may need to submit proof that you bought it at full price (e.g. if you bought it from an AT&T store or reseller rather than their website).

So since I ordered my iPhone 5 with my line first, and then ordered a 4s for my sister's line, the contract was technically reset twice. So my iPhone 5 should be done with its contract obligations since the new contract is based off the 4s?

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I think you're confused. There's seperate contracts for each phone line.
If you ordered the i5 subsidized with your line then the previous phone that was contracted on your line can be unlocked.
If you just ordered a 4S subsidized on your sisters line then the previous subsidized phone on her line can be unlocked.
The only way the iphone 5 your ordered can be unlocked or without a contract is if you paid full price at $649 plus tax for it for the 16GB model.

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